Coin dispensing device



4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR HELMEK Y9. NfliLEN PATENT ACEN T Feb. 24, 1970B. NIELSEN COIN DISPENSING DEVICE Filed on. 7. 1968 BY 70 am 094., "M

H. B. NIELSEN COIN DISPENSING DEVICE Feb. 24, 1970 Filed Oct. 7, 1968 4Sheets-Sheet 2 56 56 INVENTOR HELMEK EJ- NlELfaEN Feb. 24, 1970 H. B.NIELSEN 3,496,948

COIN DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Oct. 7, 1968 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORHELMEK P3. Nmww BY Zea, km

W (KW.

PATENT AGENT Feb. 24, 1970 H. B. NIELSEN 3,496,948

COIN DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Oct. 7, 1968 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORLIELMEK E1 NIELeEN BY 20%; PATENT AGENT United States Patent Int. Cl.07d 1/00 U.S. Cl. 1335 10 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A device forremoving a coin from the bottom of an accumulated stack. Upper and lowerplates are provided with a space therebetween for edgewise travel fromthe stack which rests on the lower plate and extends upwardly through anopening in the upper plate and into a coin tube mounted on the upperplate. A roller and a slider member are located in the space between theplates, the roller being located adjacent the opening and the sliderbeing movable across the opening towards the roller so that the bottomcoin is forced to roll about the roller when the slider member isactuated. The coin tube has a sleeve in the lower end thereof, and thesleeve extends down into the opening in the upper plate and isadjustable towards and away from the lower plate.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is common practice to provide inmachines, which operate to vend goods or services in response to theinsertion of money, a changing apparatus in order that a customer mayinsert into the machine money, such as coins, of greater value than thegoods or services being sold. Such a changing apparatus is desirable, ofcourse, so that it is not essential for the customer wishing to use themachine to have change in the exact amount of the goods or servicesbeing purchased.

Most known changers hold coins which are dispensed as change, in one ormore stacks, and means are provided to part off one coin at a time fromthe stack. A common problem encountered by the known changer is that ofa jamming effect taking place during the parting off, this usually beingcaused because the bottom coin in the stack or the one immediatelythereabove is worn or in some way slightly deformed. As the coin becomesjammed, parts of the changer may be damaged, and, of course, until thejammed coin is cleared, the vending machine is inoperative. Accordingly,if the changer is prone to jamming, the vending machine must beconstantly attended, which defeats the purpose of an automatic vendingmachine.

Another disadvantage of some types of known changers is that thedispensing mechanism is of a complex nature including several movingparts. Not only are such changers expensive to produce and difiicult tomaintain, but they are bulky. In vending machines, the space allottedfor the coin handling components is small, and therefore, bulkiness isnot only undesirable but frequently necessitates sacrificing some otherdesirable features. In the changers having the complex dispensingmechanism, for example, room is left for only one coin storage tube,while it is frequently desirable to provide at least two tubes so as toreduce the chances of the changer running out of change and to make itpossible to dispense coins of more than one denomination.

SUMMARY According to the present invention, there is provided a devicefor dispensing coins from an accumulated stack,

the device having an upper plate member provided with a coin inlet of adiameter for flatwise passage of coins from the stack locatedthereabove. A lower plate member is fixed below the upper plate memberand is arranged to support the stack with the bottom coin of the stackresting on the lower plate member and with the stack extending upthrough the coin inlet. The lower plate member is spaced below the upperplate member a distance to permit edgewise travel of at least one cointherebetween and the lower plate member has a coin outlet eccentricallydisposed relative to the inlet, a slider member is sandwiched betweenthe two plate members, and located adjacent the inlet, and in the sameplane as the slider member is a rotatable coin engaging roller. Theslider member has a coin engaging portion across the inlet from theroller and yet on a common side of a diametrical line through the inlet,the diametrical line being between the' roller and slider member on theone hand and the outlet on the other. An actuating means is provided forsliding the coin engaging portion of the slider member across the inletopening towards the roller for rolling at least the bottom coin of thestack edgewise about the roller and to the outlet.

As the bottom coin is not simply pushed edgewise from the bottom stack,but is caused to rotate slightly as it is parted off, it appears toreadily twist free of the coin above it which is in engagement with it.Thus, any irregularities or high points in engagement between the twocoins are more easily separated so that the tendency for the coin abovethe bottom coin to move off with the bottom coin is reduced.Accordingly, as the coins separate with decreased drag therebetween, thejamming effect is noticeably reduced In a specific embodiment of thepresent invention, a coin reservoir tube for containing the stack isfixed above the upper plate member over the coin inlet, and the tube hasa sleeve member within it and extending down into the coin inlet, thesleeve being adjustable toward and away from the lower plate member sothat the clearance between the lower end of the sleeve and the uppersurface of the lower plate member may be varied. With this arrangment,the space, through which the bottom coin is pushed from the stack can beactually adjusted after the dispensing device is assembled or while thechanger is in service so as to again reduce the chances of the coinabove the bottom coin from also being displaced into a position wherejamming may be caused.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings, whichshow examples of the embodiments of the present invention by way ofexample:

FIGURE 1 is a front view of the coin changer showing other components ofthe coin handling apparatus of a vending machine in chain dotted lines;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view of the coin dispensing device of thepresent invention taken along line 11-11 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a bottom view of a coin dispensing device;

FIGURE 4 is an exploded perspective view of parts of the coin dispensingdevice;

FIGURE 5 is a top view of the bottom coin in the dispensing deviceillustrating the movement of a coin during the parting off operation;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIGURE 7 is a top view of the embodiment of the dispensing device shownin FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a bottom view of the embodiment of the 3 dispensing deviceshown in FIGURE 6, but with the lower plate member removed; and

FIGURE 9 is a cross-sectional view of the dispensing device shown inFIGURE 6 as viewed from the line IX-IX of FIGURE 8.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In FIGURE 1, the coin handlingapparatus 10, which would normally be mounted in a channel-shaped framemember 11, includes a coin sorting component 12, a coin directing andswitching means 13, and a dispensing device or change giving means 14.The dispensing device 14, when activated, pays out a coin or coins aschange, which coins fall into a coin return chute (not shown), the coinreturn chute being located below the coin handling apparatus 10 to catchcoins dropped by the dispensing device 14 and also by a coin bypasschute 15 which receives rejected coins from the coin sorting component12. Although the dispensing device 14 shown in the embodimentillustrated in FIGURE 1 is used in combination with the switching means13, the two of which may be considered to make up a coin changer, thedispensing device 14 may be utilized in a coin handling apparatusutilizing other components, such as a coin totalizing mechanism or acoin escrow device.

The coin dispensing device 14 has two coin reservoir tubes 16 and 17each for holding a stack of coins 20, 21, respectively. The coins instacks 20 and 21 are of different denominations, and the tubes 16 and 17are therefore of different diameters so as to closely encircle eachstack. The switching means 13 includes a plurality of plate membersdefining a number of coin passageways (not shown) for edgewise travel ofcoins accepted by the coin sorting components 12. The passageways haveinlet openings located below outlet openings in the sorting component 12and have outlet openings at the bottom of the switching means. Two ofthe passageways have outlet openings over each of the tubes 16 and 17 sothat the coins passing in these passageways are deposited in either ofthe tubes. Another of the passageways has an opening above a ramp 22 sothat the coin falling from it hits the ramp and passes through anopening 23 and into a coin collecting box (not shown). At least some ofthe passageways have an activating arm of an electrical switch (notshown) extending thereinto so that as a coin passes, the arm is engagedby the coin to cause the switch to be closed and thereby initiate avending cycle. An electrical switch 24 is provided in the switchingmeans 13 and has an arm 25 extending through a slot 26 and into thepassageway which deposits the coin in the ramp 22. The switch 24, whichis closed when a coin engages arm 25, is provided to energize the coindispensing device 14 so that change is given when a coin passes throughthe passageway with which the switch 24 is associated.

To illustrate the general operation of the coin handling apparatus, thevending machine may be set up, for example, to vend a ten cent item andto accept either two nickels, a dime or a quarter from the customer. Ifthe customer inserts two nickels, the nickels are separated at one stageof their travel so that, the second initiates the vending cycle by theappropriate switch in switching means 13. The nickels are, however,eventually directed to tube 16 and fall into stack 20. If the customerinserts one dime, it travels through switching means and also closes thevending switch, but as it is in a different passageway than the nickels,it is deposited in tube 17. If a quarter is inserted, it also initiatesa vending cycle but during the travel of the quarter in its respectivepassageway, it closes switch 24 so as to activate the coin dispensingdevice 14 to dispense one nickel and one dime from the stacks 20 and 21in a manner which will be described in more detail below. The quarterthen continues through the switching means 13 and drops into the coincollecting box.

Each of coin tubes 16 and 17 are provided with a coin deflecting means27 at the top thereof so that in the event the tubes become filled,additional coins will be caused to spill over into a coin collectingramp 30, which extends across the front of the tubes and joins the ramp22. Thus, any surplus of the coins which would normally be kept in thestacks for the purpose of making change are directed through opening 23and into the coin collecting box.

Referring now to FIGURES 2 to 3, as well as FIGURE 1, it may be seenthat the coin dispensin device 14 includes an upper plate member 31 anda lower plate member 32. Upper plate member 31 has a pair of circularinlet openings 33, 34, of a diameter sufficient to permit fiatwisepassage of the coins in each of stacks 20 and 21, and tubes 16 and 17are mounted on upper plate member 13 coaxially with the opening 33, 34.Lower plate member 32 is secured to the upper plate member by screws 35(FIG- URE 3), but is held in spaced parallel relation therebelow by ribs36 on the under surface of the upper plate member 31. Space 37 (FIGURE2) is of sufficient depth to permit edgewise travel of the coins ofstack 21, and in the event the larger coins of stack 20 are thicker thanthose of stack 21, the space 37 in the area below tube 16 may be madesomewhat deeper by providing a depressed surface 38. The lower platemember 32 is provided with a pair of outlet openings 40, 41 which areoffset or eccentrically disposed in relation to the inlet openings 33,34, respectively. Thus, at least a major portion of the area of eachinlet openings 33, 34 overlies the upper surface of the lower platemember 32, so that the lower plate member in fact supports each of thestacks 20, 21 which normally extend upwardly through openings 33 and 34and into the tubes 16 and 17. The bottom coin in each stack rests,therefore, directly on the upper surface of the lower plate member.

Associated with each inlet opening 33 and 34 and mounted for rotation onstuds 42, 43 fixed to the lower surface of upper plate member 31 is apair of rollers 44, 45 (FIGURES 3 and 4). The rollers, which arerelatively thin so as to lie in the space 37, are adjacent the inletopenings, and in fact, the periphery of each roller is preferable on acommon tangent with the edge of the associated inlet opening.

Sandwiched between the upper plate member 31 and lower plate member 32is a slider member 47 which is mounted for reciprocation in the space37. The slider member 47 is a rectangular plate having side edges 48,48, adjacent ribs 36 so that engagement of the edges with the ribsserves to guide the slider member during reciprocating movement. Twolarge openings 50, 51, which normally encompass the areas of eachassociated inlet and outlet openings in the upper and lower platemembers, as is best illustrated in FIGURE 3, are provided in therectangular plate. Accordingly, the slider member is provided with acentral portion 52 between the openings and a transverse portion 53presenting coin engaging portions 54, 55, of the slider member. The coinengaging portions which are in the form of small corners projecting intothe openings 50, 51, are disposed across the inlet openings 33, 34, fromthe rollers 44, 45. For reasons which will become apparent below, eachcoin engaging portion of the slider member, which is normally locatedimmediately adjacent the periphery of its associated inlet opening,although located across the opening from the roller, is situated on thesame side of a diametrical line of the opening as the axis of theroller, and the centre of the outlet opening is located on the oppositeside of that diametrical line as the coin engaging portion and roller.

Secured to the central portion 52 of the slider member 47 and extendingupwardly therefrom is a post 56 which projects through a slot 57 in theupper plate member 31. A tension spring 60, which is located above upperplate member 31, is fastened at one end to the post 56 and at its otherend to an anchor pin 61. Thus, the slider memher is normally biased toits forward position shown in FIGURE 2 and illustrated by dotted linesin FIGURE 3 by the spring.

A slider member actuating means in the form of a simple solenoid 62 isfixed above the upper plate member and has a forwardly extendingarmature member 62 fastened to the post by a link 64. When the solenoidis energized by the closing of switch 24 the armature is retractedtowards the rear of the dispensing device to thereby pull the slidermember towards the rear and move coin engaging portions 54 and 55towards rollers 44 and 45.

As slider member 47 is drawn towards the rear, as indicated by arrow 65in FIGURE 3, the coin engaging portions 54 and 55 push against thebottom coin in each stack of coins. Thus, since the coin engagingportion and roller axis are on a common side of a diametrical linethrough the coin inlet opening, the coin although pushed against theroller, is in effect squeezed from between the coin engaging portion andthe roller. Due to this action the bottom coin rolls on the roller asillustrated by arrow 66 in FIGURE 5 and the centre of the coin followsalong a path which is on an arc struck about the axis of the roller.Thus, the direction of travel of the coin is not only the same as thatof the slider member, but there is a significant component of movementof the coin, particularly at the beginning of the slider member stack,in a direction transverse to the slider member movement. The progress ofthe coin is illustrated for successive positions of the slider member inchain dotted lines in FIG- URE 5. As the slider member completes itsstroke towards the rear, the coin is pushed over the outlet open ing,the centre of which is also preferably located on the arc struck aboutthe axis of the roller, and the coin falls through the outlet opening.

As described previously, the motion given to the coin as it is beingpushed from beneath the stack, and apparently its rotation or twistingmovement relative to the coin immediately thereabove, has been found tocontribute significantly to reducing the tendency for more than thebottom coin to move and thereby reduce the tendency of the coins to jam.Moreover, due to the fact that the centre of the coin moves along thearcuate path 67 which has a significant sideways component relative tothe direction of the slider member, the actual movement of the slidermember required, which movement is shown as x in FIGURE 5, is small inrelation to the total distance travelled by the coin. Because themovement required for the slider member 47 is small, it is possible touse a simple solenoid having a short stroke, and it is possible toconnect the armature directly to the slider member. Thus, the use of acomplex linkage is avoided, and because of the size and type ofsolenoid, it can be conveniently located immediately behind the cointubes within the space normally available within frame member 11.

The advantage of being able to use a compact actuating means in the formof a solenoid having a short stroke is also apparent from thearrangement utilized in the embodiment of coin dispensing device 14'shown in FIG- URES 6 to 9, in which separate actuating means in the formof solenoid 62a, 62b are used, one each being associated with each coinstack. Dispensing device 14' is particularly adapted for use in a coinhandling apparatus including a coin totalizing device (not shown) and todispense different amounts of money as change. At the rear of thedispensing device 14', there is provided a connector 70 having a longnarrow channel 71 adapted to receive a printed circuit board (notshown), which may be mounted in the frame member Ill. The printedcircuit board would also be adapted to plug into a coin totalizer sothat the totalizer and coin dispensing device 14' would be electricallyconnected. Solenoids 62a and 62b are connected to the connector 70 byseparate sets of leads 72, 73.

As stated above, the two solenoids 62a, 62b are adapted to beindependently actuated so that coins may be selectively dispensed fromeither stack 20 or stack 21. An example of a situation in which it wouldbe desirable to utilize a coin dispensing device such as 14 is one inwhich the product or service being vended has a price of fifteen cents.As in the previous example, the vending machine may be adapted to acceptnickels, dimes or quarters. Thus, when three nickels are directedthrough the totalizer, the vending machine is given a signal to vend andthe nickels pass through a passageway 75 to tube 16. Similarly, if anickel and a dime are directed through the totalizer, the machine vendsand the nickel and dime are then directed to tubes 16 and 17,respectively. However, if the two dimes go through the totalizer,solenoid 62a is energized to dispense one nickel from stack 20 and thetwo dimes are directed to tube 17. If a quarter is inserted in themachine, it is eventually directed to the coin collecting box, butduring its passage through the totalizer, it acts to initiate a vendingcycle and further acts to energize solenoid 62!) so that a dime isdispensed from stack 21 as change.

The overall structure of coin dispensing device l t is generally similarto that of coin dispensing device 14. The lower portion of the coindispensing device 14 includes an upper plate member 31 and a lower platemember 32. Lower plate member 32 has a pair of outlet openings 46', 41.Adjacent inlet openings 33, 34' in upper plate member 31 is a pair ofrollers 44, 4S arranged in the same manner as previously described. Inplace of previously described slider member 47, there is provided a pairof slider members 47a and 47b arranged in side-by-side relationship andhaving central openings 50 and 51, respectively. The edge of openings50' and 51, across the inlet Openings from the rollers, provide coinengaging portions 54, 55'. It may be readily seen, therefore, that theaction of each slider member 47a and 47b on the bottom coin in stacks 20and 21, respectively, in parting off the coin is the same as thatpreviously described.

Beside each inlet opening 33' and 34', the upper plate member 31' hasslots 57a and 57b, and upwardly extending posts 56a and 5612, which arefixed to slider members 47a and 47b, respectively, project upwardlythrough the slots. Springs 60a and 60b engage the posts 56a and 56b soas to urge the slider members to their normal positions shown in FIGURE8, and the armatures of each of solenoids 62a and 62b are connecteddirectly to the posts for pulling the slider members to their coindispensing positions.

Referring now to FIGURE 9, coins are directed to tube 16' by way of apassageway 75. Mounted at the top of tube 16 is a coin diverting elementwhich consists of a section of wire which is held to pivot about asubstantially horizontal section 81 of the element. A lower portion 82of the wire normally projects into the upper section of tube 16, andupper finger 83 is usually located outside of passageway 75. One wall ofthe passageway 75 is cut away, as shown at 84, immediately before finger83 so as to provide an opening between passageway 75 and a ramp 30,which communicates with the coin collecting box. Thus, if tube 16'becomes filled the portion 82 is pushed back out of tube 116 so as tocause finger 83 to project into the passageway 75. Accordingly, anycoins travelling down passageway 75 when the tube is filled strikes thefinger 83, deflects through the opening at 84, and then travels downramp 30 to the coin collecting box. It is to be appreciated that tube 17is preferably provided with a similar coin diverting means.

At the lower end of each of tubes 16 and 17, slots are provided throughwhich fingers are biased (FIG- URE 9). Fingers 90 are formed on thelower ends of arms 91 of a switch 92 so that the switches are eitheropened or closed when the supply of coins become low in the stacks 2t)and 21. Leads 93 connect the switches to the connector 70 so that asignal may be transferred to other parts of the coin handling apparatuswhen the supply of coins for giving change becomes small, whereby othermeans, which may be associated with the coin sorting component may beaffected to reject coins for which change would be necessary.

The lower portion of each of the tubes has a counterbore 95 and slidablyreceived'in the counterbore is a sleeve 96, the thickness of the sleevebeing substantially equal to the depth of the counterbore so that theinterior surfaces of the tube and sleeve have substantially the samediameter. The exterior of the sleeve frictionally engages the interiorof the tube in the counterbore and extends down into the inlet opening33 in the upper plate member 31'. The sleeve 90 has a radiallyprojecting stud 97 fixed thereto, which stud projects outwardly througha short helical or oblique slot 98 in the lower portion of the tube.Thus, after the coin dispensing device has been :assembled, theclearance between the lower end of the sleeve 96 and the upper surfaceof the lower plate member 32 can be finely adjusted by simply shiftingthe stud 97 in the slot since due to the engagement of the stud with theedge of the slot, axial displacement of the sleeve takes place.

Due to the fact the clearance between the sleeve and lower plate member,which clearance defines the space through which the bottom coin mustmove edgewise, tolerances need not be so critical during production ofthe device and yet it can be set up or adjusted during use to avoid muchof the jamming hitherto encountered. This clearance is in fact a rathercritical factor since if it is slightly larger than necessary toaccommodate a normal coin, more than one coin may have a tendency to beinitially pushed from the stack if the bottom and/or coin resting on thebottom coin are especially thin due to wear.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications can be made to the above-described embodiments withoutdeparting from the scope of invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A device for dispensing coins from an accumulated stack, said devicecomprising an upper plate member having a coin inlet of a diameter forfiatwise passage of coins from the stack thereabove, a lower platemember fixed below said upper plate member, and arranged to support thestack with the bottom coin of the stack resting on said lower platemember and the stack extending up through said coin inlet said lowerplate member being spaced below said upper plate a distance to permitedgewise travel of at least one coin therebetween and having a coinoutlet eccentrically disposed relative to said inlet a slide membersandwiched between said plate members, a rotatable coin engaging rollermounted for rotation about a fixed axis, said roller being adjacent saidinlet in the same plane as said slide member, said slide member having acoin engaging portion across said inlet from said roller and yet on acommon side of a diametrical line through said inlet, said outlet beingon the other side of said diametrical line, and actuating means forsliding the coin engaging portion of said slide member across said inlettowards said roller for rolling at least one bottom coin of the stackedgewise about said roller to said outlet.

2. A coin dispensing device as defined in claim 1, and furthercomprising a coin reservoir tube fixed above said upper plate memberover said coin inlet for containing said stack, and a sleeve memberwithin said reservoir tube and extending down into said coin inlet, saidsleeve being adjustable toward and away from said lower plate member topermit variation of clearance between said sleeve and said lower platemember.

3. A device for dispensing coins from an accumulated stack, said devicecomprising upper and lower, horizontal aflixed plate members providingtherebetween a space of sufficient thickness for edgewise travel of acoin therebetween, said upper plate having a coin inlet opening of adiameter for flatwise passage therethrough of coins from the stackthereabove, said lower plate member having an upper surface under saidinlet opening for supporting the stack extending up through said inletopening with the bottom coin of the stack resting on said upper surface,a roller rotatable about a fixed vertical axis and having a coinengaging periphery in a plane between said plate members and juxtaposedsaid inlet opening, a slide member having a coin engaging portion acrosssaid inlet opening from said roller periphery and yet on a common sideof a diametrical line across said inlet opening as the axis of theroller, and actuating means for moving said coin engaging portion ofsaid slide member towards said roller, said lower plate member having anoutlet opening eccentrically disposed relative to said inlet opening andsubstantially on an arc struck about the roller axis from the centre ofthe inlet opening on the opposite side of said diametrical line fromsaid roller axis and coin engaging portion whereby movement of said coinengaging portion of said slide member towards said roller parts off saidbottom coin from the stack and forces the par-ted off coin to traveledgewise along said are to said outlet opening.

4. A coin dispensing device as defined in claim 3, and furthercomprising a coin reservoir tube having a lower end fixed to said upperplate member, said tube having an internal diameter for closelyencircling said stack and being axially aligned with said inlet openingin said upper plate member, the lower end of said tube having acounterbore, and a sleeve member having an internal diametersubstantially the same as that of the tube located in said counterbore,said sleeve extending down through said inlet opening and being movabletowards and away from said lower plate member whereby clearance betweensaid sleeve member and the upper surface of said lower plate member maybe adjusted.

5. A coin changing device comprising a coin reservoir tube, coinpassageways, one of said passageways having an outlet over said tube fordepositing coins therein, a switch means associated with another of saidpassageways responsive to coin passage for actuating a payout of changefrom a stack of coins accumulated in said tube, a horizontal upper platemember below said tube, said plate member having a coin inlet openingfor fiatwise passage of coins in said stack, a horizontal lower platemember spaced beneath said upper plate member and sufiiciently spacedtherefrom to permit edgewise travel of a coin therebetween, said lowerplate member having an upper surface under said inlet opening forsupporting the stack of coins thereon with the bottom coin of the stackresting on said upper surface, said lower plate member having a coinoutlet opening offset relative to said inlet opening, said tube having acounterbore in the lower end thereof, a sleeve received in saidcounterbore and having an internal diameter for closely encircling thecoins in said stack, said sleeve extending downwardly through theopening in the upper plate member and being adjustable in an axialdirection for varying the clearance between said sleeve and the uppersurface of said bottom plate member, a slide member sandwiched betweensaid upper and lower plate members, and actuating means controlled bysaid switch means for passing said slide member into said clearance andthereby pushing the bottom coin to said outlet opening.

6. A device as defined in claim 4 or 5, wherein said tube has an obliqueslot therein adjacent the lower end thereof, and wherein said sleeve hasa radially projecting stud secured thereto and projecting outwardlythrough said slot whereby said sleeve may be slightly rotated fromwithout said tube and engagement of said stud within said slot causesaxial displacement of said sleeve to thereby effect the clearanceadjustment.

7. In a coin changing apparatus having a switch means in a coinpassageway of one denomination for actuating a payout of change from atleast one stack of coins of another denomination accumulated in a cointube, a dispensing device comprising horizontal, aflixed, upper andlower plate members providing therebetween a space of suflicientthickness for edgewise travel of a coin of said other denomination, saidupper plate having under said tube a coin inlet opening of a diameterfor flatwise passage of coins from said tube, said lower plate memberhaving an upper surface under said inlet opening for supporting thestack extending up through said inlet opening and into said tube withthe bottom coin in the stack resting on said upper surface, a roller inthe space between said plate members mounted for rotation about a fixedvertical axis and having a coin engaging peripheral surface immediatelyadjacent said inlet opening, a slide member in said space having a coinengaging portion across said inlet opening from said roller and yet on acommon side of a diametrical line across said inlet opening, and anactuating solenoid connected to said slide member and arranged to beenergized by said switch means for horizontally shifting said slidemember in a direction to move said coin engaging portion thereof acrosssaid inlet opening towards said roller, said lower plate member havingan outlet opening eccentric-ally disposed relative to and yet partiallyoverlapped by said inlet opening, said outlet opening beingsubstantially on an arc struck about the roller axis from the centre ofthe inlet opening on the opposite side of said diametrical line from theroller axis and said coin engaging portion of said slide member wherebyupon energization of said solenoid to move said coin engaging portiontowards said roller, the bottom coin is parted otf from under said stackand is forced edgewise about said roller to said outlet opening.

8. In a coin changing apparatus having a coin passageway for passage ofacceptable coins of one denomination, an electrical switch associatedwith said passageway and responsive to coin passage for actuating apayout of change in another denomination from stacks of coinsaccumulated in a pair of spaced side-by-side vertical, reservoir tubes;a dispensing device comprising horizontal, afiixed, upper and lowerplate members providing therebetween a space for edgewise travel ofcoins of the other denomination, said upper plate having a pair of inletopenings under said tubes, each opening having a di ameter for flatwisepassage of coins from the tube thereabove, said lower plate memberpresenting an upper surface under said inlet openings for supporting thestacks each extending up through one each of the inlet openings and intoone of the tubes with the bottom coin of each stack resting on saidupper surface, a pair of rollers in said space and each mounted forrotation about a fixed vertical axis, each one of said rollers beingassociated with one of said inlet openings and having a coin engagingperipheral surface adjacent the associated inlet opening, a slide memberin said space for mounted horizontal reciprocating movement transverseto said pair of tubes side-by-side and including a central portionbetween said inlet openings and a transverse portion formed integrallywith said central portion, and said central portion presenting a pair ofcoin engaging portions, each being across the said inlet opening fromthe associated roller of the inlet opening and yet on a common side of adiametrical line across the inlet opening as said associated roller,said upper plate member having a slot above said central portion, saidslide member having a post fixed thereto and extending up through saidslot, a solenoid fixed relative to said upper plate member and having an6 actuating stern thereof connected to said post for shifting said slidemember on energization of said solenoid by said switch and thereby movesaid coin engaging portions of said slide member across said inletopenings toward the rollers, said lower plate member having .a pair ofoutet openings each eccentrically disposed relative to and yet beingpartially overlapped by one each of said inlet openings, each outletopening being substantially on an arc struck about the roller axis fromthe center of one of the inlet openings on the opposite side of thediametrical line from the associated roller and coin engaging portion ofthe slide member about the axis of the associated roller, whereby uponenergization of said solenoid to shift said slide member, the bottomcoin in each stack is parted off from under the stack and is forcededgewise along said are to said outlet opening.

9. A coin dispensing device as defined in claim 8, wherein said coinengaging portions are each defined by a corner of said transverseportion to provide point contact with said bottom coin.

10. In a coin changing apparatus having coin passageways and electricalswitch means associated therewith for actuation by coin passage in saidpassageways, a coin dispensing device including a horizontal upper platememher having at least two coin inlet openings therethrough, coinreservoir tubes on said plate member and aligned one each with saidinlet openings, each tube being positioned to receive coins from adifferent coin passageway and having an internal diameter for holding astack of coins of a particular denomination, a horizontal lower platemember fixed to said upper plate member and defining therewith a flatspace of suflicient depth for edgewise travel of coins between saidplate members, said lower plate member having an upper surface undersaid inlet openings in said upper plate for supporting the stack ofcoins in said tubes, rollers mounted in said space for rotation aboutfixed vertical axes, each roller defining a coin engaging peripheryhaving a common tangent with one of said inlet openings, slide memberseach presenting a coin engaging surface normally across said inletopening from the roller and yet on a common side of a diametrical lineof the inlet opening as the axis of the roller, said lower plate memberhaving openings associated with each inlet opening but offset relativethereto on an arc struck about the roller axis from the centre of theinlet opening and on the opposite side of said diametrical line from theroller axis, and solenoids connected one each to said slide members formoving said coin engaging portion toward said roller to thereby part offa coin at the bottom of the stack and push it along said are to saidoutlet opening, each solenoid being independently energized by saidelectrical switch means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,183,671 5/1916 Ripsch 133-5 X1,437,733 12/1922 Gross. 1,470,841 10/1923 Hunter 133--5 1,801,7964/1931 Chalmers. 1,823,227 9/1931 Alland. 1,827,312 10/1931 Franks.1,968,500 7/1934 Mills. 2,629,477 2/1953 May 133-4 X 2,802,474 8/1957 DuGrenier et al. 1335 X 3,130,736 4/1964 Vaccaro 133-5 SAMUEL F. COLEMAN,Primary Examiner

